Compare towns
Carver vs Townsend vs Wareham vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Plympton has the most people working from home (19.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Carver | Townsend | Wareham | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,712 |
9,100 |
23,302Highest |
2,935Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 15% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
46.4±4.2 16% above MA |
| Wareham and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plympton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23k 12% below MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$126,736±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| Plympton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,200±$21k 23% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$517,800±$52kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,827±$345Highest 4% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Carver and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,455 8% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,628Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Carver and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plympton and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #237 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carver | North Middlesex | Wareham | Plympton |
| High school in town | Carver Middle/High School | North Middlesex Regional | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
13.1Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.